Community Conversations

On the first Thursday of every month from 7-8 p.m. WTIP hosts a live interactive conversation on an issue of community importance. Guests are invited into the studio and listeners are invited to call in or email with questions, comments, and concerns. This participatory program is designed to give everyone a voice in the discussion of public affairs issues that shape our community. To participate in the conversation call 218-387-1070 or email us at wtip@boreal.org.

On the third Thursday of every month from 7-8 p.m. WTIP's Jay Andersen hosts a one-on-one discussion with a variety of community members.

A reinvigorated environment for business and local government is characterized by an almost completely new city government and a focused county-wide chamber of commerce.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for two informative interviews centered on business development and the business of government.

Jim Boyd is the Executive Director of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and he’ll update us on the Chamber’s legislative priorities and the time he’s spent at the Capitol this session. Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux is the newly elected Mayor of Grand Marais. He and fellow city counselors spent a day beginning an on-going planning process for the city’s future.

Local business and government is the focus of this month’s Third Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

This weekend the Cook County Care Center will celebrate 50 years in the community. There are plans for an open house Sunday, and several other celebrations and activities up to and including Fisherman’s Picnic.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for a special First Thursday Community Conversation. We’ll talk with three people intimately associated with long term care in Cook County. Kimber Wraalstad is the administrator for Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center, Evelyn McDonald is president of the Care Center auxiliary and Mark Abrahamson is the RN Resident Care Manager.

“Care in Cook County, past present and future,” First Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

The mental illness revolving door is a state-wide concern and the emergency room isn’t a good place for people in mental health crises – now, there is a new, much needed alternative.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for “Birch Tree Center— helping to meet our mental health needs” this month’s First Thursday Community Conversation. Program guests are a Who’s Who of mental health care professionals in the Arrowhead.

Birch Tree Center is the product of more than two years of collaboration among hospitals, police, tribes and mental health centers across the region as well as government officials.

Many of those key players will be on the air for “Birch Tree Center— helping to meet our mental health needs” this month’s First Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

Are our local schools becoming more centralized due to state and federal mandates? Do standardized tests help or hinder teachers and their students? What does creating the world’s best workforce really mean?

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen when we explore the big picture of education as well as how two of our schools apply all those rules and policies. ISD166 Superintendent Beth Schwarz and Great Expectations Charter School Administrator Peter James talk about responding to the challenges of local education.

First Thursday Community Conversation – “Flexibility, Accountability and Creativity in Local Education.” Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

As health care needs grow, treatments become more sophisticated and patients require a broader menu of choices, hospitals and care centers grow and change with the demands.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for “Remodeling and Re-visioning North Shore Hospital and Care Center”– on Third Thursday Community Conversation.

The Cook County community first decided in 1958 to a levy that would build North Shore Hospital and Care Center. Over the years there have been many expansions, innovations and revisions. That time has arrived again.

Emergencies can strike anytime, but summer is a good time to review your preparedness for severe weather, wildfires and other untimely events.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for the August edition of First Thursday Community Conversation: “Preparing for Emergencies in Cook County.”
We’ll be joined by Gunflint Trail fire chief Jim Morrison, county Emergency Manager Jim Wiinanen, Sheriff Leif Lunde, and Carol Christenson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service in Duluth.

First Thursday Community Conversation: “Preparing for Emergencies in Cook County.” Only on Wtip North Shore Community Radio.

Cook County is a long way from the Iron Range, so why do we reap the benefits of the taconite tax? If non-ferrous mining becomes a reality, who benefits from those taxes? What exactly is the mission of the IRRRB and after all is said and done, what does it mean to be a miner?

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for a special Fifth Thursday Community Conversation – “Mining the Mining Connection in Cook County.”

To better understand mining and its relationship to Cook County, we’ll be talking with District 3A Representative David Dill and Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Commissioner Tony Sertich.

“Mining the Mining Connection in Cook County.” Fifth Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

At last count there are over a dozen book groups meeting on a regular basis in Cook County. That’s a lot of readers reading and discussing what they’re reading.

Join Jay Andersen for the June edition of Third Thursday Community Conversation. He’s joined by book group members talking about what they’re reading, past and present, why they participate in groups as well as their insights into better reading -- and why in this increasingly digital age most of them continue to turn paper pages.

“Reading, readers and book groups” -- Third Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.